X-ray machine



Marh"3o,j1943. E, J Buss 2,315,149

` v X-RAY MACHINE Filed June 29, 1940 I/ i o .64 4.9 160 f5 4 v Elmelr Jared Bliss vmvmox 5 4.6

Patented Mar. 30, 19643 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE x-RAY MACHINE Elmer rJared Bliss, Boston, Mass. Application June 29, 1940,;sria1No. 343,202

9 Yanims. Y(ci.` 25o- 5m This invention relates to X-ray machines and more specifically contemplates cabinets incorporating X-ray apparatus adapted to take a radiograph or to fluoroscopethe feet of a person, standing on a platformvcomprising a part ofthe cabinet, to Vfacilitate the proper fitting of shoes.

Most ready-made shoes are classied as to sizeby only a few measurements, as for example, length and width, and accordingly measurement of the feet of a person to be fitted is ordinarily confined vto the taking of those dimensions. However, the exact shape of the `feetmay Vary greatly without reflecting proportionate variations in such measurements. preselecting the size of shoes most likely to afford comfort and adequatesupportofthe feet is thatv slight differences inthe relative size of a persons feet may require shoes of slightlylarger dimensions than would be indicated by usual measurements Moreover ready-made shoesare seldom of exactly the same size, so that-itis impossible to obtain any more than `ayery general idea of how well a shoe will t Vprior` to the actual fitting. Y

Consequently, great care-must be exercised by the customer as well as the salesman in determining by the feel of vthe'i shoe onthe foot, whethery the proper size shoey has-been selected. As new shoes should fitA snugly, theyv will to a certain extent feel uncomfortable., if only-because of the stiffness of the leather. 'Most customers are unableto distinguish between a. normal-and proper constriction of the foot by a new shoe and the undue pressure or' slight distortion of the foot likely to produce injury or result in pennanent4 discomfort.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide apparatus adapted to obviate the deciencies in conventional methods of tting shoes, heretofore-requiring excessive care' of the customer and greatskill by a salesman,l by permitting a Visual examination of the -feet of the customer while Wearing selected shoes.

More specically, it is an object to provide X-ray apparatus enclosed in a cabinet embodying means .to direct an X-ray beam against a platform on which the prospective customerplaces his feet so as to cast shadows of the bone structure and tissue of the feet on a fluorescent screen, in combination with means for viewing the screen from one or more suitableV apertures-in` the cabinet. v

Another object is the provision of a compartment, beneath a platform projecting from the bottom of a cabinet adapted` to receive,selectively,

Another consideration in v a screen for purposesfof uoroscopy, or a cassette containing'lrn for use in makinga radiograph. Another object is to provide a cabinetotthe character above alluded toem bodying areector for, c lir ecting;l rays of; light radiating from `a luoroscope, of thegfeetof aperson standingY o n-a suitable platform, comprisingapart of thecabinet,- to viewingaperturespin the top of the cabinet, soas to facilitate observation :by the personKV Whose feet: are thev subjectY of. thediuoroscope,

Anotherobject is to `provide a control panel in fthegcabinet incorporating Ameans for actuating a switch,v controlling-,two different electrical circuitsthrough .the X-ray apparatus for purposes of energizing thelatter forI fluoroscopy` and radiography., respectively,` and ,adapted to indicate lto the .operator which, oiithe circuits are energized.

Still, another; object', is .to provide a; cabinet protected against. stray: radiation. of X-raysA by means restrictingothe primary-X-ray beam` to a predetermined area on theplatform on'which ythe proposed subjects .of'the uoroscopeor radiograph are .,placed, andfurther by means disposed below 'the platform to. stop rayspassingnbeyond theirobjective. Still .otherobjects andfsalent features of my invention, such for; example asease of operation, simplicity of .design and yconstruction of thecabinet,. susceptibility.v to. attractive. appearance,A and -thezfaithful accurate representation of the foot structure in both fluoroscope andradiograph', will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon an examination of the following, description read. in thelght ofthe accompanying drawing, in which: Eig. 1is al perspective. View of; thet cabinet, partially broken; away, illustrating particularly the externalappearance ofthe vcabinet and locationof principalparts. therein;

Fig..2y is avertical sectionalviewfof the cabinet showing, inlelevation,.tle.container yfor the X-ray apparatus. the container.` beingv partially Ybroken away to showy the position. of...th'e X-ray tube;

Fig. 3 is aview elevationpartially broken awayof` Ytheswitch control assembly and. ndicatorv; l

Fig. Llis a broken` sectional view ofthe screen and the carrierA frame therefor, utilized inmaking fluoroscopes;

Fig. 5-is a broken sectional, View of a cassette forholding -lm adapted to be substitutedV for the fluoroscope screen, inmaking a' radiograph of the foot structure.

Referring-to thevdrawing` more in detail, wherein like numerals indicate similar partsthroughout-the several views, 'I designates generally` a cabinet comprising a floor 8, front and side walls 9 and rear wall III. The upper portion of the cabinet is closed by a top section II comprising a control panel I2 sloping upwardly from the front wall to the rear wall and having sides I3 depending therefrom telescopically received within walls 9 and I0 of the cabinet proper. section I I may be removed for purposes of servicing the X-ray unit hereinafter referred to.

The rear wall I6 terminates above theV floor 8 of the cabinet and'from its lower edge a platform I4 extends. Platform I4 comprises the top of a rearward cabinet extension I5Y and is supported by rear and side walls I6 which form a light tight compartment I1. I

The topV The X-ray apparatus I8 which is largely conventional in form, is enclosed in a fluid tight case I9 mounted by suitable Vhangers 29 in theupper part of the cabinet with the case spaced from the rear wall I6. The X-ray tube 2I, enclosed in av lead cylinder 22. to -prevent uncontrolled radiation of the rays,- is hung in the case by suitable means (not shown) over and adjacent an oblique rearward side -23 of case I9. The side 23 of the case preferably arranged in aplane at right angles to a line passingrthrough the centers of the platform I4 .and tube 2I..A small aperture 24v in cylinder 22 releases an X-ray beam whichis directed to the platform through an opening 25 in side23 of the, case, the beam passing through the rear wall I0 of the cabinet. The X-ray apparatus I8 in the case is immersed in oil and in order to prevent-oil from owing through the opening 25, I provide a barrier 26 composed of Bakelite orother material through which the-X-ray beam passes. The barrier 26 is secured in the case to wall23 over. the opening 25, a portion thereof extending closely adjacent the cylinder A22and across the aperture y24 to vminimize thel quantity of oil through which the -X-ray beamfmust pass. A lead plate 21 is secured on .theexterior of side 23.0f the case kand is formed with anA opening .28 which registers with the opening 25 in case I9. Opening .28 is carefully shaped and the plate 2.1 arranged on the case to mask off all of the X-,rays passing throughthe opening. 25, except those directed to platform I4. One sideof the lowercabinet extension I5 is slotted as at 29 directly under platform. I4 through which slot afiuorescent-screen frame 39 ora cassette 3I may be selectively in serted.

The screen frame 38,- illustrated in Fig. 4,15 rectangular, having inwardly extending spaced parallel sides 32 between which the screen and the associated elementsabout to be described are assembled for insertion as a unit into the come partment l1 through the slot 29. The screen 33 of a type well-known in the art, being preferably composed of a paper material coated with barium sulphate, is positioned on a sheet 34 of lead glass and` covered by a sheet 35 of Bakelite or. other material .through which the X-ray will pass. The edges of theBakelite and lead glass sheets 34v and 35 are taped or clipped together with the screen therebetween and are mounted in the frame, which may be made. intwo. or more sections to facilitate this assembly. Suitable rails 36 are secured to the cabinetvwithin/ the compartment adjacent the ends `of the slotV to supportl the screen frame 39 in Ya horizontal position.

The cassette 3| or hn holder, adapted to be substitutedV for thescreen 33 and frame 30 when a radiograph, is tod be made, ,comprises ,a recteur gular frame 31. The top 38 of the cassette is formed of Bakelite, having its edges secured to the frame. A plate 39 forming the bottom of the cassette is removably attached in the frame by suitable means, as by spring arms 49 which engage in slots 4I in sides of the frame, in a manner well lniown in the art. With the plate 39 removed, the film 42 is placed in the frame against the Bakelite top 38. A lead sheet 43 is then inserted into frame 31 under the lm 42 to stop the X-rays passing through the film. Plate 39 is placed in the frame under sheet 43 and the spring arms 4I) are engaged in the slots 4I to exert pressure through the plate against the lead sheet 43 and hold nlm 42 flat against the Bakelite top 38. The cassette 3| with film 42 may be slid into or out of the compartment I1 through slot 29 and is supported in the conipartment by the rails 36.

The control panel I2 in the top section II of the cabinet is formed with three viewing apertures44 located in the middle of the panel adjacent the rear wall I3 of the section and adjacent eachof the corners of the rear wall and the side walls, respectively. A reflector 45 is mounted on the oor 8 of the cabinet directly below the centrally-located-viewing aperture, and is supported by, one or more props 46 at an angle suitable for reflecting light rays radiating from screen 33 below platform I4 to each of the viewing apertures 44 during a `fluoroscopic examination of the feet as is hereinafter more in detail described. f

Two separate electrical circuits through the X-ray apparatus are provided which energize the apparatus for fluoroscopy and in making a radiograph, respectively, as will be obvious to those engaged in the art. A double throw snap switch 41, connected in each of these circuits, is secured to the undersidevof a plate 48 which is in turn attached by suitable means to the underside of the control panel l2. VThe switch 41 is of conventional construction, being provided with a control lever 49 which extends upwardly so as to protrude through a slot 50 in plate 48. Switch 41 is operated by a knob 5I located above the control panel and s ecured on the upper end of a shaft 52 journalled in the pane1 and plate 48. One end of a lever 53,is secured to shaft 52 between thepanel and plate 48. The opposite end of lever 53 is forked, bifurcations 54 vthereof extending to opposite sides of switch lever 49. One end of an arm -55 is pivotally attached to lever 53 intermediate. its ends. The opposite end of armk 55 is pivotally connected to an indicator plate 56 slidable in guide ways (not shown) within a dial frame 51 carried by the control panel I2. The face 58 of the dial is formed with an elongated opening A 59 above the plate, with which the Words Fluoroscope and Radiograph, imprinted on or stamped in the indicator plate 56, are adapted to be brought selectivelyinto registry. Thus by rotating theknob 5I, the switch lever 49 may be turnedtoone side (l. e. to the left as shown in Fig. 3) to complete the electrical circuit,V by which the apparatus is energized for making a fiuoroscope. In this position, the word Fluoroscope on the indicator Aplate will be registered kwith the opening 59 in the dial face 58 so as to be visible from the top of the cabinet and indicatethe closed circuit to the operator. By turning knob 5I in the opposite direction, the forked end of lever 53 and the switch lever 49, actuated thereby, will be shifted to the right from their positions shown inAFig.;3 so as to coinciff dentally open the electrical circuit employed in making a fluoroscope and close the circuit utilized in making a radiograph. If desired, an auxiliary switch (not shown) may also be included in the circuit by which they X-ray apparatus is energized for purposes of fluoroscopy. To prevent injury by over exposure to the X-rays in taking a radiograph, a timer, generally designated by the numeral 60, of conventional construction, is provided, and embodies a switch (not shown) controlling the circuit which energizes the X-ray apparatus when a radiograph is to be recorded. The electrical circuits, and the arrangement as well as construction of the switches, are within the skill of those in the art and accordingly, this subject matter is not illustrated in detail or further described.

The compartment Il is preferably lined, sides and bottom, with lead plates 6I to afford as added protection against the radiation of X-rays outside the area protected by the sheets 34 and 38 of lead glass in screen frame 30 and cassette 3|, respectively. The lining 6l also serves to avoid damage by the primary X-ray beam should the apparatus be inadvertently turned on when neither the screen frame or cassette with their lead glass sheets are in position below platform It will thus be seen that I have provided a cabinet embodying X-ray apparatus for directing the X-ray beam to a platform of the cabinet on which a person may place his feet while he and others, e. g., an instructor, observe through convenientlyarranged viewing apertures in the top of the cabinet, a reflection of a uoroscope of the feet registered on a screen removably carried below the platform, and adapted for substitution by a cassette containing lm on which may be recorded a radiograph of the foot structure, suitable means being included for changing the electrical circuit through the X-ray apparatus to meet the requirements of iiuoroscopy or radiography, respectively, and to indicate by a visible signal the circuit closed.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that numerous changes in size, design, proportion, and number of the different parts may be made, and particularly that the line of vision may be altered in various ways by the rearrangement of the viewing apertures and reector 4I, as well as by the provision of additional reflectors suitably placed to direct the light rays from the fluorescent screen to the apertures, without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a compartment comprising sides and a top, X-ray apparatus, means to support said X-ray apparatus laterally of the area above the top of the compartment and in a position to direct a beam against said top, a cassette, the entire area above the portion of said top to which the beam is directed being unrestricted whereby a person standing on said portion of the top may see his feet without moving, one of the sides of said compartment having a slot therein for the reception of said cassette into said compartment, means in said compartment adjacent said slot to support said cassette in said compartment below said top.

2. In a device of the character described, a cabinet comprising side walls and a top, said top having a Viewing aperture therein, a platform comprisinga part of said cabinet, X-ray apparatus, means to' support said X-ray apparatus in said cabinet in a position to direct an X-ray beam downwardly against said platform, a screen below said platform, and a single mirror lto reflect light rays radiating from said screen to said viewing aperture, said mirror being disposed in the cabinet to register an image thereon with the different parts of the image in the same relative position with respect to the side walls of the cabinet as the parts of the image registeredon said screen.

3. In a device of the character described, a cabinet comprising sidewalls and having a platform extending laterally from` adjacent-the bottom thereof, X-ray apparatus and means to mount the X-ray apparatus in the cabinet to direct an X-ray beam through one wall of the cabinet and downwardly onto the platform, the area above said platform being unrestricted to enable a person to see his feet while standing on the platform with his feet within the X-ray beam, a screen-holder and a screen carried in said holder, means to slidably support said holder and screen below said platform, and means to reect light rays radiating from said screen to a point adjacent the top of the cabinet.

4. In a device of the character described, a housing having a substantially horizontal platform associated with one side thereof, a screen adapted to fluoresce under X-ray excitation disposed under said platform and substantially parallel therewith, X-ray apparatus supported and arranged in said housing to direct an X-ray beam downwardly onto said platform and said screen, the area of the platform to which said beam is directed being disposed laterally of the entire housing.

5. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a platform extending from one side thereof, X-ray apparatus supported in said cabinet to cast an X-ray beam onto said platform, said cabinet having a viewing aperture therein, a fiuorescent screen, means to support said screen below said platform, means to reflect light rays radiating from the screen to said viewing aperture, said platform and cabinet being arranged to afford a person standing on said platform an unrestricted line of vision to, selectively, his feet, and through said Viewing aperture to said last-named means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a cabinet comprising an upright portion and a platform, a uorescent screen below said platform, a viewing aperture in said cabinet, reiiecting means in said cabinet to reflect light rays radiating from said screen to said viewing aperture, and X-ray apparatus in said cabinet at the opposite side of the line of vision extending between said viewing aperture and said reflecting means with respect to the platform to direct an X-ray beam through said platform to said screen.

'7. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a platform extending from one side thereof, X-ray apparatus supported in said cabinet to cast an X-ray beam onto said platform, said cabinet having a viewing aperture therein, a fluorescent screen, means to support said screen below said platform, means to reflect light rays radiating from the screen to said viewing aperture, means comprising a part of said cabinet forming passages for light rays radiating from the screen to the viewing aperture and from the portion of the top of the platform to which said X-ray-,beam is directed to a point directly above said last-named portion` of the platform. l ,Y f

8. In a device of the character described, a cabinet having a substantially vertical wall and a top, a substantially horizontal platform connected to and extendinglaterallyirom said Wall, a fluorescent screen below the platform, X-ray apparatus within said cabinet spaced from said wall to provide a light passage between said aperture and said wall and arranged to cast an X-ray beam downwardly onto said platform vadjacent said wall and to therscreen, said top having a viewing aperture Vtherein adjacent said l wall, and means to reflectlight rays radiating /from said screen through said light passage to said vviewing aperture.

9. In a device of the character described, a cabinet, means having a lead backing disposed at'one side of said cabinet against which the subject-matter to be examined is to be disposed, a screen adapted to fluoresce under X-ray excitation disposed between said means and backing and'substantially parallel therewith, X-ray apparatus within said cabinet, means to support said X-ray apparatus within said cabinet in a position laterally of all lines passing through and perpendicular to the screen and to direct an X-ray beam to said screen through said firstnamed means.

- ELMER J ARED BLISS. 

